Bx cable connector



Dec. 26, 1950 R. STROM BX CABLE CONNECTOR Filed June 23, 1948 INVENTOR. ROBERT STR OM Qua-n Muzak AME/71175) Patented Dec. 26, 1950 4 Glaiinss 1 This invention relates to new and" useful im'- provements in cable connectors.

More specifically, the present invention. relates tosnew. and useful improvements in a connector for connecting a cable, such as'a BX-type arvmoredf cable, to an electrical outlet or: terminal box in electrical installations in homes, oflices and" other building structures.

A- further. object of the present invention is the. provision ofa novel connector for insertion in the usual knockout'holes. of an electrical outletor terminal box ina manner to'have the usual BX type cable" pass. through the connector into the box...

Still another object of the, present invention proposes providing the connector with an inner "offset sleeve portion arranged in a manner'to require a slight rotary movement in order to ex- I tend the inner" sl'eeve" portion through the hole of the outlet or terminal box.

Another object" or'thisa invention proposes the provision of a set screw on' the inner offset sleeve portion having a beveled outer end" arrangedin a manner so that the screw may be turnedout'to engage the material of the outlet or terminal box surrounding'the hole through which theconnector is inserted to secure the connector" in position;

A further object ofthe present invention proposes constructing the connectorto includean.

outer sleeve portion separated from the inner sleeve portionby a flange arrangedin a manner to seat against the outer face of the material of the outlet or terminal box surrounding the hole:-

Stillanotherobject of' the presentinvention proposes providing the outer sleeve'portion with means-- for anchoring the end of a BX-type cable in'position within the connector.

It is" another object of the present invention. to-provide the interior of the connectorwith a stop member arranged in a manner'to limit.

insertion of the end'of' the-BX-type connector into the connector.

.tures of, ther invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Eig;. ..l is a plan view of an electrical outlet or terminnadi box having its top; cover" removed and. havin a B yne cabla connected: theret by means-of a cable connector constructed in accordance withthe'present invention;

Fig. 2 isan enlarged partial verticalsecti'onal View taken-on the line 22of Fig. 1. Fig. 3isavertical sectional view of the-con=- hector per setak-en on the line 3 --3 of"Fig; 2:

Fig; 4 is-a horizontalsectionalviewta-kenon the line 1-4 of" Fig; 3.

Fig.- 5 is an end elevational viewwfthe-connector per selooking in'the direction-oftheline ii -5 0i Fig. 2.

The cable connector; in accordancewiththe present invention, is arranged to be used in connection with an electrical-outlet orterminal box lflof the typewhich normally hasits open top closed by a cover; not shown onthedrawings. The inside ofthe box It! is prov-ided with the usual lugs llagainst: which the cover is adapted to be rested and which are provided with the usual screwthreaded" openings romeceiving the screws whichsecure the cover in position.

Such outlet or terminal boxes [0 are usually formedwith oneormore holes l2 normallyclosed by knock-out discs; not shown, which areadapted to be knockedoutto permit the insertion of the end of a BX-type armored cable I 3: That type of cable is generally known to those skilled in the art and includes a metallic cover-- M convolutely wound forming a spiral groove l5 about the length of: the.-cab1e.-

The. cable connector is. characterized by. an inner sleeve portion I6 andian outer sleeve'por tion ii separated: from the inner sleeve portion it by a circular. flange [8. As shown iIILEiESluZ anda; the sleeve" portions? I 62. and l l andJthe cit:- cular flange l8 are integrallwformed';

Referring :to; Fig. .2. of: the: drawings, itiwilli be noted that; the face of the flange; l8: adjacent the inner sleeve portionlfi abuts the outsidesface of" the outlet-or terminal box It about thehole i2; It will be further noted-thatthe-inner sleeve portion It, is" offset slightly" downwards so: that the inner sleeve portion l6 must be passed into the hole 12. with a rockingor turning movement aiteriirst engaging the material of. the outlet or terminal box at the bottom of the holei l-into the junction of. the inner sleeve-portion IS with the flange I8.

The. top side of the inner sleeve portion 16 1s provided witha set screw |9- having, a. beveled top edge 20. Theset screw [9 issolocated that when it is turned in a direction to move upwards relative to the inner sleeve pflltiOI-IJSJTJS: beveled top edge 20w will ride. across th edge of the material of theoutlet or terminalboxl llatthe top of the hole l2. This movement of the beveled top edge 2|] on the material of; the outlet orterminal; boxat. the-top of the; .hole; tiawill; draw in slightlvon the connector;andzcausectheflangee i8 to be drawn into tight facial contact with the side of the box I and simultaneously push downwards slightly on the inner sleeve portion I6 and cause the junction of the bottom of the inner sleeve portion I6 with the bottom of the flange I8 to be securely seated against the material of the outlet or terminal box ID at the bottom of the hole I2, securely locking the cable connector in position within the hole !2. To release the cable connector for removal from the hole I2 it is merely necessary to turn the set screw I9 downward in a direction to disengage the beveled top edge 20 of the set screw I9 from the material of the outlet or terminal box Ill at the top of the hole I2.

The end of the cable I3 is to be inserted into the connector from the outer end of the outer sleeve portion I? and means is provided within the inner sleeve portion I6 to prevent the cable from being passed entirely through the connector. This means comprises a small stop member 2| formed within the inner sleeve portion I6 and which depends from the top wall thereof and against which the inner end of the cable I3 is adapted to abut, as shown in Fig. 2.

Means is provided on the outer sleeve portion I! for anchoring the end of the BX-type cable in position within the cable connector. The anchoring means comprises a small rib 22 formed with the outer sleeve portion Il adjacent the bottom thereof. This rib 22 is angularly disposed, as shown in Fig. 4, corresponding to the angular disposition of the spiral groove I of the cable I3 and is arranged to engage the spiral groove I5 between adjacent convolutions of the metallic cover Id of the cable l3. Also, the outside of the outer sleeve portion ii on the side diametrically opposite the rib 22 is formed with a projecting boss 23. An anchor bolt 24 is obliquely threadedly passed through the boss 23 and is adapted to be tightened against the side of the cable I3 urging it toward the rib 22, so as to cooperate with the rib 22 for securely anchoring the end of the cable I3 in position within the cable connector.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim' as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A connector for anchoring the end of a BX- type cable in position within the hole of an electrical outlet or terminal box, comprising an inner sleeve portion and an outer sleeve portion separated by an intermediate flange for engag ing the material of the box surrounding its hole when the inner sleeve portion is inserted into the hole, said inner sleeve portion being oiTset downwardly to be inserted into the hole with a turning motion, means at the top of the inner sleeve portion for engaging the material of the box at the top of the hole to secure the inner sleeve portion in position, and means on the outer sleeve portion for anchoring the end of the cable in position within the sleeves, said first-mentioned means comprises a set screw having a beveled top end which is to be tightened against the material of the box at the top of the hole.

2. A connector for anchoring the end of a BX- type cable in position within the hole of an elec- Number trical outlet or terminal box, comprising an inner sleeve portion and an outer sleeve portion separated by an intermediate flange for engaging the material of the box surrounding its hole when the inner sleeve portion is inserted into the hole, said inner sleeve portion being ofiset downwardly to be inserted into the hol with a turning motion, means at the top of the inner sleeve portion for engaging the material of the box at the top of the hole to secure the inner sleeve portion in position, and means on the outer sleeve portion for anchoring the end of the cable in position within the sleeves, said cabl anchoring means comprises an anchor bolt screw threaded through one side of said outer sleeve portion, and a rib formed within said outer sleeve portion on the side opposite said bolt to engage in the spiral groove of the cable when the bolt is tightened against the cable.

3. A connector for anchoring the end of 'a BX- type cable in position within th hole of an electrical outlet or terminal box, comprising an inner sleeve portion and an outer sleeve portion separated by an intermediate flange for engaging the material of the box surrounding its hole when the inner sleeve portion is inserted into the hole from the outside of the box, said inner sleeve portion being ofifset downwardly to be inserted into the hole with a turning motion, a set screw threaded into said inner sleeve portion diametrically opposite its downwardly offset portion to be tightened against the adjacent material of the box defining the hole, an anchor bolt screw threaded through one side of said outer sleeve portion, and a rib formed within said outer sleeve portion on the side opposite said bolt to engage in the spiral groove of the cable when the bolt is tightened against the cable anchoring the cable in position within the outer sleeve portion.

4. A connector for anchoring the end of a BX- type cable in position within the hole of an electrical outlet or terminal box, comprising an inner sleeve portion and an outer sleeve portion separated by an intermediate flange for engaging the material of the box surrounding its hole when the inner sleeve portion is inserted into the hole from the outside of th box, said inner sleeve portion being ofiset downwardly to be inserted into the hole with a turning motion, a set screw threaded into said inner sleeve portion diametrically opposite its downwardly oiiset portion to be tightened against the adjacent material of the box defining the hole, an anchor bolt screw threaded through one side of said outer sleeve portion, and a rib formed within said outer sleeve portion on the side opposite said bolt to engage in the spiral groove of th cable when the bolt is tightened against the cable anchoring the cable in position within the outer sleeve portion, said set screw having a beveled top end for riding over the material of the box defining the hole to simultaneously push downward on said inner sleeve and pull inward thereon to draw said flange into tight facial contact with the material of the box surrounding said opening.

ROBERT STROM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 1,191,078 Hutton July 11, 1916 Re.18,634 Thomas Oct. 13, 1932 

